Compound and organic light-emitting diode, display and illuminating device using the compound

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, there is provided a compound represented by Formula (1): 
                         
where Cu +  represents a copper ion, each of R 1  and R 2  represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or an aromatic cyclic group which may have a substituent, each of R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6  represents a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or H, and X −  represents a counter ion where X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, BF 4 , PF 6 , CH 3 CO 2 , CF 3 CO 2 , CF 3 SO 3  and ClO 4 .

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-008677, filed Jan. 19, 2011,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a novel compound and anorganic light-emitting diode, a display and an illuminating device usingthe same.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, organic light-emitting diodes have been attractingattention as a technology for next-generation displays and lightings. Inthe early study of organic light-emitting diodes, fluorescence has beenmainly used. However, in recent years, an organic light-emitting diodeutilizing phosphorescence which exhibits higher internal quantumefficiency has been attracting attention.

Mainstream of emissive layers utilizing phosphorescence in recent yearsare those in which a host material containing an organic material isdoped with an emissive metal complex including iridium or platinum as acentral metal.

However, an iridium complex and platinum complex are rare metals and aretherefore expensive, giving rise to the problem that organiclight-emitting diodes using these rare metals are increased in cost.Copper complexes, on the other hand, likewise emit phosphorescent lightand are inexpensive, so that they are expected to reduce the productioncost.

An organic light-emitting diode using a copper complex as alight-emitting material has been disclosed. However, the copper complexused here has the problem that the synthetic method is complicated.

Also, a material capable of blue emission with high efficiency isrequired for application to lighting which emits white light and a RGB(Red, Green, and Blue) full color display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an organic light-emitting diode ofan embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a display of an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a lighting device of anembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the ¹H-NMR spectrum of [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the photoluminescence spectrum of[Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the electroluminescence spectrum of an organiclight-emitting diode according to Example;

FIG. 7A is a view showing the relationship between the voltage andcurrent density of the diode according to Example; and

FIG. 7B is a view showing the relationship between the voltage andluminance of the diode according to Example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, there is provided a compoundrepresented by Formula (1):

where Cu⁺ represents a copper ion; each of R₁ and R₂ represents alinear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or an aromatic cyclic group whichmay have a substituent; each of R₃, R₄, R₅ and R₆ represents a halogenatom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a linear, branched or cyclic alkylgroup or H; and X⁻ represents a counter ion where X is selected from thegroup consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, BF₄, PF₆, CH₃CO₂, CF₃CO₂, CF₃SO₃ andClO₄.

Embodiments of the present invention are explained below in reference tothe drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the organic light-emitting diode ofan embodiment of the present invention.

In the organic light-emitting diode 10, an anode 12, hole transportlayer 13, emissive layer 14, electron transport layer 15, electroninjection layer 16 and cathode 17 are formed in sequence on a substrate11. The hole transport layer 13, electron transport layer 15 andelectron injection layer 16 are formed if necessary.

Each member of the organic light-emitting diode of the embodiment of thepresent invention is explained below in detail.

The emissive layer 14 receives holes and electrons from the anode andthe cathodes, respectively, followed by recombination of holes andelectrons which results in the light emission. The energy generated bythe recombination excites the host material in the emissive layer. Anemitting dopant is excited by energy transfer from the excited hostmaterial to the emitting dopant, and the emitting dopant emits lightwhen it returns to the ground state.

The emissive layer 14 contains a luminescent metal complex (hereinafter,referred to as an emitting dopant), which is doped into the hostmaterial of an organic material. In this embodiment, a copper complexrepresented by the following formula (1) is used as an emitting dopant.

In the formula, Cu⁺ represents a copper ion. R₁ and R₂ eachindependently represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or anaromatic cyclic group which may have a substituent. A carbon number ofthe alkyl group is preferably 1 to 6. Specific examples of the alkylgroup include a methyl group, isopropyl group and cyclohexyl group.Specific examples of the above aromatic cyclic group include a phenylgroup, naphthyl group and phenoxy group, each of which may besubstituted with a substituent such as an alkyl group, halogen atom andcarboxyl group. R₃, R₄, R₅ and R₆ each independently represents ahalogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, linear, branched or cyclic alkylgroup or H. In the case where R₃, R₄, R₅ or R₆ is the alkyl group, acarbon number thereof are preferably 1 to 6, and specific examplesthereof include a methyl group, isopropyl group and cyclohexyl group, orthe like. X⁻ represents a counter ion where X is selected from the groupconsisting of F, Cl, Br, I, BF₄, PF₆, CH₃CO₂, CF₃CO₂, CF₃SO₃ and ClO₄.

The use of the copper complex as the emitting dopant enables thefabrication of an organic light-emitting diode more reduced in cost thanin the case of using an iridium complex or platinum complex. Further,the copper complex represented by the above formula (1) can besynthesized more easily than other copper complexes which are known tobe used as the emitting dopant.

The copper complex represented by the above formula (1) has a shorteremission wavelength as compared to the copper complexes which are knownto be used as the emitting dopant. Therefore, with the use of the coppercomplexes of the above formula (1) as the emitting dopant, it ispossible to attain blue emission.

Also, even in the case where the copper complex represented by the aboveformula (1) is used as the emitting dopant, it is possible to provide anorganic light-emitting diode having emission efficacy and luminancewhich are greater than or equal to the conventional organiclight-emitting diode.

Hereinafter, a synthetic scheme of the copper complex represented by theabove formula (1) will be described. In the following reaction formulas,R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆ and X are as defined above.

Specific examples of the copper complex represented by the above formula(1) include a copper complex ([Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄) in which R₁ and R₂are phenyl and R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ are H. (Py-C2-PPh₂) represents aligand which coordinates with Cu⁺ ion. Py represents pyridine, C2represents an ethylene group and Ph represents a phenyl group. Astructure of the [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ is shown below.

As the host material, a material having a high efficiency in energytransfer to the emitting dopant is preferably used. The host materialsused when using a phosphorescent emitting dopant as the emitting dopantare roughly classified into a small-molecular type and a polymer type.An emissive layer containing a small-molecular host material is mainlyformed by vacuum co-evaporation of a small-molecular host material andan emitting dopant. An emissive layer containing a polymer host materialis formed by applying a solution obtained by blending the polymer hostmaterial with the emitting dopant as essential components. Typicalexamples of the small-molecular host material include1,3-bis(carbazole-9-yl)benzene (mCP). Typical examples of the polymerhost material include poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). Besides the abovematerials, 4,4′-bis(9-dicarbazolyl)-2,2′-biphenyl (CBP),p-bis(triphenylsilyl)benzene (UGH2) and the like may be used as the hostmaterial in this embodiment.

In the case of using a host material having high hole-transport ability,the carrier balance between holes and electrons in the emissive layer isnot maintained, giving rise to the problem concerning a drop in luminousefficacy. For this, the emissive layer may further contain an electroninjection/transport material. In the case of using a host materialhaving high electron-transport ability on the other hand, the emissivelayer may further contain a hole injection/transport material. Such astructure ensures a good carrier balance between holes and electrons inthe emissive layer, leading to improved luminous efficacy.

A method for forming the emissive layer 14 includes, for example, spincoating, but is not particularly limited thereto as long as it is amethod which can form a thin film. A solution containing an emittingdopant and host material is applied in a desired thickness, followed byheating and drying with a hot plate and the like. The solution to beapplied may be filtrated with a filter in advance.

The thickness of the emissive layer 14 is preferably 10-100 nm. Theratio of the host material and emitting dopant in the emissive layer 14is arbitrary as long as the effect of the present invention is notimpaired.

The substrate 11 is a member for supporting other members. The substrate11 is preferably one which is not modified by heat or organic solvents.A material of the substrate 11 includes, for example, an inorganicmaterial such as alkali-free glass and quartz glass; plastic such aspolyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate(PEN), polyimide, polyamide, polyamide-imide, liquid crystal polymer,and cycloolefin polymer; polymer film; and metal substrate such asstainless steel (SUS) and silicon. In order to obtain light emission, atransparent substrate consisting of glass, synthesized resin, and thelike is preferably used. Shape, structure, size, and the like of thesubstrate 11 are not particularly limited, and can be appropriatelyselected in accordance with application, purpose, and the like. Thethickness of the substrate 11 is not particularly limited as long as ithas sufficient strength for supporting other members.

The anode 12 is formed on the substrate 11. The anode 12 injects holesinto the hole transport layer 13 or the emissive layer 14. A material ofthe anode 12 is not particularly limited as long as it exhibitsconductivity. Generally, a transparent or semitransparent materialhaving conductivity is deposited by vacuum evaporation, sputtering, ionplating, plating, and coating methods, and the like. For example, ametal oxide film and semitransparent metallic thin film exhibitingconductivity may be used as the anode 12. Specifically, a film preparedby using conductive glass consisting of indium oxide, zinc oxide, tinoxide, indium tin oxide (ITO) which is a complex thereof, fluorine dopedtin oxide (FTO), indium zinc oxide, and the like (NESA etc.); gold;platinum; silver; copper; and the like are used. In particular, it ispreferably a transparent electrode consisting of ITO. As an electrodematerial, organic conductive polymer such as polyaniline, thederivatives thereof, polythiophene, the derivatives thereof, and thelike may be used. When ITO is used as the anode 12, the thicknessthereof is preferably 30-300 nm. If the thickness is thinner than 30 nm,the conductivity is decreased and the resistance is increased, resultingin reducing the luminous efficiency. If it is thicker than 300 nm, ITOloses flexibility and is cracked when it is under stress. The anode 12may be a single layer or stacked layers each composed of materialshaving various work functions.

The hole transport layer 13 is optionally arranged between the anode 12and emissive layer 14. The hole transport layer 13 receives holes fromthe anode 12 and transports them to the emissive layer side. As amaterial of the hole transport layer 13, for example, polythiophene typepolymer such as a conductive ink,poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate [hereinafter,referred to as PEDOT:PSS] can be used, but is not limited thereto. Amethod for forming the hole transport layer 13 is not particularlylimited as long as it is a method which can form a thin film, and maybe, for example, a spin coating method. After applying a solution ofhole transport layer 13 in a desired film thickness, it is heated anddried with a hotplate and the like. The solution to be applied may befiltrated with a filter in advance.

The electron transport layer 15 is optionally formed on the emissivelayer 14. The electron transport layer 15 receives electrons from theelectron injection layer 16 and transports them to the emissive layerside. As a material of the electron transport layer 15 is, for example,tris[3-(3-pyridyl)-mesityl]borane [hereinafter, referred to as 3TPYMB],tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum [hereinafter, referred to as Alq₃],and basophenanthroline (BPhen), but is not limited thereto. The electrontransport layer 15 is formed by vacuum evaporation method, a coatingmethod or the like.

The electron injection layer 16 is optionally formed on the electrontransport layer 15. The electron injection layer 16 receives electronsfrom the cathode 17 and transports them to the electron transport layer15 or emissive layer 14. A material of the electron injection layer 16is, for example, CsF, LiF, and the like, but is not limited thereto. Theelectron injection layer 16 is formed by vacuum evaporation method, acoating method or the like.

The cathode 17 is formed on the emissive layer 14 (or the electrontransport layer 15 or the electron injection layer 16). The cathode 17injects electrons into the emissive layer 14 (or the electron transportlayer 15 or the electron injection layer 16). Generally, a transparentor semitransparent material having conductivity is deposited by vacuumevaporation, sputtering, ion plating, plating, coating methods, and thelike. Materials for the cathode include a metal oxide film andsemitransparent metallic thin film exhibiting conductivity. When theanode 12 is formed with use of a material having high work function, amaterial having low work function is preferably used as the cathode 17.A material having low work function includes, for example, alkali metaland alkali earth metal. Specifically, it is Li, In, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, K,Yb, Cs, and the like.

The cathode 17 may be a single layer or stacked layers each composed ofmaterials having various work functions. Further, it may be an alloy oftwo or more metals. Examples of the alloy include a lithium-aluminumalloy, lithium-magnesium alloy, lithium-indium alloy, magnesium-silveralloy, magnesium-indium alloy, magnesium-aluminum alloy, indium-silveralloy, and calcium-aluminum alloy.

The thickness of the cathode 17 is preferably 10-150 nm. When thethickness is thinner than the aforementioned range, the resistance isexcessively high. When the film thickness is thicker, long period oftime is required for deposition of the cathode 17, resulting indeterioration of the performance due to damage to the adjacent layers.

Explained above is an organic light-emitting diode in which an anode isformed on a substrate and a cathode is arranged on the opposite side tothe substrate, but the substrate may be arranged on the cathode side.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a display according to anembodiment.

A display 20 shown in FIG. 2 has a structure in which pixels 21 arearranged in circuits each provided with a lateral control line (CL) andvertical digit line (DL) which are arranged matrix-wise. The pixel 21includes a light-emitting diode 25 and a thin-film transistor (TFT) 26connected to the light-emitting diode 25. One terminal of the TFT 26 isconnected to the control line and the other is connected to the digitline. The digit line is connected to a digit line driver 22. Further,the control line is connected to the control line driver 23. The digitline driver 22 and the control line driver 23 are controlled by acontroller 24.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a lighting device according toan embodiment.

A lighting device 100 has a structure in which an anode 107, an organiclight-emitting diode layer 106 and a cathode 105 are formed in thisorder on a glass substrate 101. A seal glass 102 is disposed so as tocover the cathode 105 and adhered using a UV adhesive 104. A dryingagent 103 is disposed on the cathode 105 side of the seal glass 102.

The emissive layer 14 may include other layers in addition to the layerin which the emitting dopant represented by the above formula (1) isdoped into the host material of the organic material. More specially,the other layer may be a layer in which a red emitting dopant is dopedinto the host material of the organic material and/or a layer in which agreen emitting dopant is doped into the host material of the organicmaterial. Furthermore, the other layer may be a layer in which a redemitting dopant and green emitting dopant are doped together into thehost material of the organic material.

EXAMPLES Synthesis of [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄

A 100 mL recovery flask was charged with tetrakisacetonitrile copper (I)tetrafluoroborate (10.57 mg, 0.034 mmol) and2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl)pyridine (Py-C2-PPh₂) (20.31 mg, 0.070mmol), and the mixture in the flask was dried under vacuum. Theatmosphere in the recovery flask was flushed with nitrogen, and 5 mL ofchloroform bubbled by nitrogen was added in the flask by using a syringein which the atmosphere was purged with nitrogen. After the mixture wasstirred at ambient temperature for 6 hours, the reaction solution wasfiltrated to remove insoluble materials. When hexane was added to thefiltrate, a white solid was precipitated. The precipitate was isolatedby filtration to obtain [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ which was a target product.

The reaction scheme of the above reaction is shown below. Py representspyridine, C2 represents an ethylene group and Ph represents a phenylgroup.

¹H-NMR spectrum (CDCl₃, 270 MHz) of [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ synthesized bythe above-described method is shown in FIG. 4.

<Measurement of PL Spectrum>

A photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ obtained bythe above-described synthetic method was measured. The measurement wasconducted at ambient temperature in a solid state by using amulti-channel detector PMA-11 manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.The results are shown in FIG. 5. As a result of excitation withultraviolet light having an excitation wavelength of 365 nm, blueemission having an emission peak of 470 nm was exhibited.

<Fabrication of Organic Light-Emitting Diode>

The above synthesized [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ was used as an emittingdopant to fabricate an organic light-emitting diode. The layer structureof this diode is as follows: ITO 100 nm/PEDOT:PSS 55 nm/PVK: OXD-7:[Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ 70 nm/3TPYMB 10 nm/CsF 1 nm/Al 150 nm.

The anode was a transparent electrode made of ITO (indium-tin oxide) 100nm in thickness.

As the material of the hole-transport layer, an aqueouspoly(ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene.sulfonic acid)[PEDOT:PSS]solution which is conductive ink was used. An aqueous PEDOT:PSS solutionwas applied by spin coating, and dried under heating to form ahole-transport layer 55 nm in thickness.

As to the materials used for the emissive layer, poly(N-vinylcarbazole)[PVK] was used as the host material,1,3-bis(2-(4-tertiarybutylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxydiazole-5-yl)benzene[OXD-7]was used as the electron-transport material and [Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄ wasused as the emitting dopant. PVK is a hole-transport host material andOXD-7 is an electron-transport material. Therefore, if a mixture ofthese materials is used as the host material, electrons and holes can beefficiently injected into the emissive layer when voltage is applied.These compounds were weighed such that the ratio by weight of thesecompounds is as follows: PVK:OXD-7:[Cu(Py-C2-PPh₂)₂]BF₄=60:30:10, anddissolved in chlorobenzene to obtain a solution, which was applied byspin coating, followed by drying under heating to form an emissive layer70 nm in thickness.

The electron-transport layer was formed in a thickness of 10 nm by vaporevaporation of tris[3-(3-pyridyl)-mesityl]borane [3TPYMB]. The electroninjection layer was formed of CsF 1 nm in thickness and the cathode wasformed of Al 150 nm in thickness.

<Measurement of Electroluminescence Spectrum>

An electroluminescence spectrum at a voltage application of the organiclight-emitting diode fabricated as described above was measured. Themeasurement was conducted by using a highly sensitive multi-channelspectroscope C10027-01 manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. Theresults are shown in FIG. 6. An electroluminescence spectrum having anemission peak at 488 nm was obtained.

<Luminous Characteristics of Organic Light-Emitting Diode>

The luminous characteristics of the organic light-emitting diodefabricated in the above manner were examined. FIG. 7A is a view showingthe relationship between the voltage and current density of the diodeaccording to Example. FIG. 7B is a view showing the relationship betweenthe voltage and luminance of the diode according to Example. Theluminance was measured using a Si Photodiode S7610 (trade name,manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.) with a visibility filter.Further, the current and the voltage were measured using a SemiconductorParameter Analyzer 4156b (trade name, manufactured by Hewlett Packard).

Current density rose along with application of voltage and thelight-emitting was started at 4 V. The luminance was 2 cd/cm² at 6 V.

According to the embodiment or the examples, it is possible to providethe copper complex which is inexpensive, easily synthesized and has theemission wavelength which is the short wavelength and the organiclight-emitting diode, the display device and the lighting device usingthe copper complex as the emitting dopant.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic light-emitting diode comprising: ananode and a cathode which are arranged apart from each other; and anemissive layer interposed between the anode and the cathode andcomprising a host material and an emitting dopant, the emitting dopantcomprising a compound represented by Formula (1):

where Cu⁺ represents a copper ion; each of R₁ and R₂ represents alinear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or an aromatic cyclic group whichmay have a substituent; each of R₃, R₄, R₅ and R₆ represents a halogenatom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a linear, branched or cyclic alkylgroup or H; and X⁻ represents a counter ion where X is selected from thegroup consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, BF₄, PF₆, CH₃CO₂, CF₃CO₂, CF₃SO₃ andClO₄.
 2. A display comprising the organic light-emitting diode accordingto claim
 1. 3. A lighting device comprising the organic light-emittingdiode according to claim
 1. 4. The organic light-emitting diodeaccording to claim 1, wherein each of R₁ and R₂ represents a phenylgroup, each of R₃, R₄, R₅ and R₆ represents H, and X represents BF₄.